GPS Inaccurate and Camera Crashing? Check the Main Logic Board
A user reports that their smartphone's GPS is often inaccurate (location is off by several blocks) and the camera app crashes when switching to video mode. The phone has no physical damage and has not been dropped recently. The technician performs a factory reset, but the problems persist. Which of the following components is MOST likely faulty?
Quick Answer
The answer is the main logic board. This is correct because the main logic board integrates the GPS receiver, camera controller, and power distribution for multiple subsystems; a fault here can cause seemingly unrelated issues like smartphone GPS inaccurate camera crashes, as the board handles data routing and voltage regulation for both components. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between software faults and hardware failures—a common trap is to replace the camera module or GPS antenna individually, but when a factory reset fails, the shared root cause is the logic board. Remember the mnemonic "One Board, Two Woes": if two unrelated peripherals fail after a reset, suspect the motherboard, not the parts.
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the concept that a single hardware component (the main logic board) can cause multiple, seemingly unrelated symptoms, leading candidates to incorrectly blame individual modules like the camera or GPS antenna.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Main logic board
The main logic board (motherboard) integrates the GPS receiver, camera controller, and other subsystems. A fault here can cause seemingly unrelated issues—like GPS inaccuracy and camera crashes—because the board handles data routing and power distribution for multiple components. Since a factory reset did not resolve the problems, the hardware failure is likely on the logic board itself, not a peripheral module.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Main logic board
Why this is correct
The main logic board houses the GPS receiver circuitry and the camera's image signal processing path. Since a factory reset did not resolve either fault and there is no physical damage, the shared hardware component is the likely cause rather than software or a single peripheral.
- ✗
Camera module
Why it's wrong here
A faulty camera module explains the video-mode crash but not GPS inaccuracy, which is unrelated hardware. It is tempting because the camera app fails, yet the combination of GPS and camera faults points to a shared component, not the camera alone.
- ✗
GPS antenna
Why it's wrong here
A faulty GPS antenna degrades location accuracy but cannot cause the camera app to crash in video mode. It is tempting because GPS inaccuracy is a listed symptom, yet the camera failure is unexplained; a single component affecting both GPS and camera is the likely fault.
- ✗
Battery
Why it's wrong here
A failing battery causes shutdowns or unexpected power loss, not GPS drift or camera-app crashes. It is tempting because battery degradation is common in older phones, but neither symptom maps to power delivery; the shared GPS and camera failure indicates a different component.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1101
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user reports that their smartphone's GPS location is inaccurate, often showing the wrong street or city. The user states that mapping applications open and the phone is able to see satellites, but the blue location dot is far from the actual position. The phone is running the latest operating system version. Which of the following should a technician check FIRST?
hard- A.Location mode setting (e.g., GPS only vs. high accuracy)
- ✓ B.Date and time settings
- C.Airplane mode status
- D.Bluetooth pairing list
Why B: Correct answer is B. GPS accuracy depends on the receiver using the correct time to apply satellite ephemeris data. While a slight clock offset is normally solved for in the position calculation, a significant date/time error—such as an incorrect year or time zone—can cause the receiver to misinterpret satellite signals and produce an inaccurate position. Since the device can see satellites and mapping apps open, checking the date and time settings is a fast and simple first step.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1101 exam.